Feeler mechanism for looms



Dec. 15 1925 1,566,258n

` imm G. H. WILLARD FEELER MECHANISM FR LOOMS Filed July 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

Dec. 15, 19,25.` 1,566,258 A v G. H. WILLARD FEELER MCHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed J'uly 28.' 1925 2 Sheets-Shoe. 2

Patented Dee. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. WILLARD, OFr HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COR- PORATION, OF I-IOQEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION F MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM' FOR LOOMS.

Application filed July 28, 1925. Serial No. 46,534. i

T 0 all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, Gnonen H. WILLARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hopedale, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which t-he following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the =J drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feelerI mecha.- nisins for looms and more particularly to the intermittent type of such mechanisms wherein the feeler has periods of activity and periods of inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle.

In feeler mechanisms of the intermittent type it is desirable that the feeler shall be held in an inoperative position beyond the reach of the iilling on detecting beats during periods of inactivityof the feeler. This inoperative position of the feeler during its periods of inactivity may be accomplished in various ways, as by moving the feeler frontwardly beyond the reach of the filling on detecting beats, or by 'moving thefeeler laterally whenl it is pushed frontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle. ln accordance with the present invention, the ieeler is moved laterally to an inoperative position beyond the reach of the filling on detecting beats, and in order to prevent accidental movement of the feeler back to its original lateral position, means are provided a. for locking the feeler from lateral movement when it has been moved to its inoperative position.

In feeler mechanisms of the intermittent type, so called, it is frequently desirable to vary the periods of inactivity inaccordance withtlie character of the filling in use. For instance, if theiilling be of large count or coarse yarn, it will be depleted from the shuttle more rapidly than when the lling is c of liner count, and consequently, in the use The invention, new combination of parts and novell features thereof will best be made clear ,froml the following description and the accompanying drawingsl of one good, practical forml of the invention.

In the drawings:

F ig. l is a plan view of a feeler mechanism, some of the parts being broken away, embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view showing more particularly the step-by-step member and the trip device for varying the periods of inactivity of the feeler;

Fig. 3, is a perspective View of a feeler mechanism embodying the present invention, showing the step-by-step member for operating the trip device actuated from the cam follower; p

Figa is a det-ached det-ail showing more particularly the step-by-step member' and the change-able relation of the trip device in its connection therewith;

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view with parts broken away showing more particularly the detent and locking device asson ciated with the feeler, the parts being in disengaged relation; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail showing the detent and the lock engaged with the .feelerto prevent lateral movement of the feeler inV either direction when in its inoperative position.

Feelerf mechanisms are now usuallv em-r ployed` for changing the operative condition of the loom when the lilling in the shuttle reaches substantial exhaustion, and in the present instance of the invention, the feeler mechanism is shown as associated with illing replenishing mechanism for replenishing the filling when substantial exhaustion of the filling has been reached. The details of the replenishing mechanism form no essential part of the present invention and are therefore not shown, since they are now well understood in the-art.

Having reference more particul'arly to Fig, 3, the loom frame l may be of usual construction, and rising from the usual Atransverse shaft which extends to the replenshing side of the loom, as usual, is the arm. 2 having pivotal'ly connected thereto at 3 the actuator 4 the rear end portion of which has pivoted' thereto at 5 the lever 6,- the rear end portion 7 of which is adapted at times to be engaged by the cam olloWer 3 or a part connected thereto. Pivotally mounted at 9 on the support 10 secured to the loom trame is a bell crank lever, the horizontal arm 11 of which underlies the finger 12 carried by the lever 6, and connected to the arm 13 of the bell crank lever is the transmitter 14, the opposite end portion of which is connected at 15 to a slide 16 mounted in suitable guideways at the rear portion of the eeler stand 17, the construction being such that should the slide 16 be moved laterally to the left, Fig. 3, the rear end portion ot the lever G will be placed in the path ci' the operating member 8 and replenishment of filling will be initiated.

Extending through an opening in the slide 16 is the ieeler 18, the rontwardly extending end portion 19 of which passes through the swivel bearing 2O mounted between the bracket 21 and the eeler stand.

Vlilhe eeler 18 is provided with a bridge or support 22, the end portions of which rest upon the top surface of the feeler stand, and interposed between the bridge 22 and the front bearing 2O is a spring 23 normally acting to move the `feeler into its rearward feeling position. rlfhe leeler stand 17 may be adjustably secured to the shipper stand or a bracket carried thereby through the medium of a bolt 24 which passes through a slot 25 in the eeler stand.l rlhe feeler 18, in the present instance of the invention, is shown as of the inclined type, that is, it is mounted upon the feeler stand to enter the shuttle in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis thereof, and the rear end portion ol the- `ifeeler is provided with one or more teeth 2G adapted to engage the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

yllhe shuttle 27 is provided with the usual` bobbin holding jaws 28 for holding the bobbin or filling carrier 29 on which the filling' 3*() is wound. rEhe parts so far described may be substantially the same as the similar parts described and shown in the pa-'uit to Edward S. Stimpson, No. 1,309,-

1, July 3, 1919, to which reference may be had for a more full disclosure of the details.

1n accordance with the present invention, the teeler is to be held in a frontward inoperative position beyond the reach of the filling on detecting beats, and, as shown, this characteristic inoperative position of the feeler during its periods of inactivity is produced by the lateral movement of the eeler when the latter has been moved frontwardly by a working supply olf filling in the shuttle and the lay goes back.

1n the present instance of the invention, the feeler is provided with the tooth 31, the rear surface 32 of which is inclined laterally relative to the frontward holding surface 33 et the detent 34e, the ellect being that when the 'lieeler has been moved frontward by a working supply of illing on a detecting beat and the lay goes back, the relatively inclined surfaces of the detent and feeler engaging portions will act under the impulse or' the spring 23 to move the feeler laterally from dotted to full line position, Fig. l, where it will be held by the detent during its periods ot inactivity beyond the reach o1c the filling on detecting beats.

The detent 34 is pivotally mounted at 35 preferably upon a lug 36 extending upwardly from the 'eeler stand, and the iront end portion of the detent 34; is normally under the influence of a light spring 37 tending to litt the frontend portion of the detent, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Since the normal position ot the detent under the action of the spring 37 maintains its rear end portion 38 in lowered position, it is desirable that the rear end surface 39 of the detent be vertically inclined to cooperate with the inclined surfaces il() on the front portion of the iieeler tooth 31, the eect being that when the teeler is moved :trontwardly by a working supply of filling on a detecting heat, the inclined surfaces 39, 40 will cause the eeler to lift the detent and permit the detent to drop into engagement with the relatively and laterally inclined surfaces 32 carried by the eeler lug, and as the lay goes back and such relatively inclined surfaces are forced into engagement by the spring 23, the 'lieeler will be moved laterally as indicated in Fig. l. so that its rear toothed portion 26 will be beyond the reach of the lling on detecting beats.

1n accordance with one feature of the present invention, the ieeler is to be locked from lateral movement in either direction when in its inoperative position, as above described, and while various forms of locks may be utilized for preventing such lateral movement oit' the feeler in either direction during its periods of inactivity, the preferred form of the suggested locl is such as shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein the tooth 31 carried by the feeler is provided with a locking portion 41 which is adapted to be engaged by the cooperating locking member i2 carried by the rear portion of the detent 34. rihe lock as shown is formed with the locking member 42 oit the detent of the general wedge shape shown, while the cooperating locking portion of the eeler is formed by a substantially correspondingly shaped recess, the construction being such that when the Yfeeler has been moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling on a detecting beat and the tooth 31 of the lieeler has engaged the tooth oi' the detent as the lay goes back, the lieeler will be moved laterally, and coincident with this lateral movement, the locking members will engage and thereafter hold the 'teeler from lateral movement in either direction until the feeler is subsequently released. from the detent to its periodv of activity. The effect of the locking feature is manifest during weaving and serves to maintain the feeler in its lateral inoperative position, as indicated in Fig. 1, without danger of recurring contact with the filling by the return of the feeler laterally to its original or initial position.

In accordance with the present invention, the feeler is to be tripped at intervals to its periods of activity, and a trip device is provided whereby the periods ofinactivity of the feeler may change in accordance with the character of the filling in use.

As shown in the present instance, the feeler stand has extending therefrom a stud or dead shaft 43 on which is rotatively mounted the step-by-step member 44, herein shown as a wheel provided with teeth 45 and having a hub portion 46 through which the stud' or dead shaft 43 extends. Mounted on the angular hub portion 46 of the toothed wheel is the trip device 47 which may be secured to the hub 46 by suitable means, such as the screw 48, the result being that the trip device 47 rotates with the toothed wheel 44.

The trip device 47 is provided in the present instance with two trip' portions, the main trip portion 49 which is shown has a wide tooth extending substantially the longitudinal length of the hub portion of the trip device, and the auxiliary trip portion 50 of less width than the main trip portion 49, for a purpose as will presently appear.

Extending Yfrom the detent 34 isa lug 51 which projects laterally from the' detent,

as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

When fine count yarn is being used in the loom as filling, it is desirable that the periods ofV inactivity of the feeler shall be longer than when coarser yarn is employed, and to thus vary the tripping action of the trip device, the trip is connected with the toothed wheel for relative change of position to effect one or the Vother of these purposes. Then relatively long periods of inactivity of the feeler are desired, the trip device 47 will'be connected to the toothed wheel with the auxiliary trip portion 5() adjacent the surface of the toothed wheel 44, as indicated in Fig. 1, whereupon the main trip portion 49 alone of the trip device will act upon the projection 51 of the detent to free the feeler on each rotation of the toothed wheel. On the other hand, should a different count of yarn be used in the loom and shorter periods of inactivity of the feeler be desired, the trip device 47 will be shifted or changed in its relation to the toothed wheelto place the auxiliary trip portion 50 in position to also act upon the projection 51 extending from the detent, whereupon on each half revolution of the toothed wheel,ithe trip device will act to trip the feeler or free it to itsperiod's of activity.

The connection between the trip device and the toothed wheel may be variously contrived, but a good, practical, convenient form of such connection is shown in Fig. 4 wherein the hub portion 46 of the toothed wheel is angular in cross-section and two of its edges at 52 and 53 are bevelled or cut away to correspond to a similarly shouldered portion 54 in the hub of the trip device 47, the effect being that the trip device may be secured to the toothed wheel in its proper relation thereto to secure either long or short periods of activity of the feeler.

It is sometimes desirable that the step-bystep movement ofthe toothed wheel 44 may not be too free, or such as to overrun, and as one means of -retarding the too free rotation of the toothedv wheel, the present invention provides a spring 55, Fig. 1, mounted upon the stud or dead shaft 43 and interposed between the fixed casing 56 and the surface of the toothed wheel 44, as indicated in F ig, 1, and while the spring 55l affords the proper retarding action to. the too free movement of the toothed wheel, other equivalent means may be employed for this purpose.

In accordance with the present invention, the toothed wheel'. 44 is to be given a stepby-step movement and this may be effected from any going part of the loom. In the present instance, however, such step-by-step movement of the toothedl wheel is effected from the cam follower. Mounted in suitable bearings 57, 58 formed inv a bracket 59 secured-to the loom frame or shipper stand, as by the bolt 60, is they rock shaft 61, the outer end: porti-on 62 of which has secured thereto a clamp. 63v to which is pivotally connected at 64 theJ pawll 65, the construction being such that upon rocking movement of the rock shaft 61, the pawl 65 will actuate the toothed wheel 44 step-by-step to thereby operate the trip device. The shaft 61 .has secured thereto at its inner end 66 a crank arm 67, the bifurcated end portion 68 of which engages a pin 69 mounted onl the cam 'follower 70 or a part operated thereby.

The cam follower 70 isvmounted for rocking movement upon the support 71 and its lower end portion 72 carries a shoe 7 3 which rests upon the cam 74 on a constantly rotating shaft 75, the effect being that as the cam follower isv given its usual movement, the rock shaft 61 will be rocked'and the pawl 65 effect a step-by-step movement of thev toothed wheel and the trip device 47 connected thereto. l

It may be desirable in some instances to provide a limiting stopl for the pawl 65 in its idle stroke, and in the present instance this is aifordedby a pin 7 6l projectingl from the nxed casing 56, so that as the pawl partalres of its idle-stroke and disengages itself from the teeth of the wheel 44, it will rest upon the pin 76 and be ready for its active stroke.

l'rhile the details of the present invention may be varied within the true scope thereof, the 'described details form a practical and eiiicient means tor locking the 'leeler in its inoperative position trom lateral movement daring its periods oli' inactivity, and the selected connection oi' the trip device with the step-by-step member affords agood practical means ior varying the periods of inactivity of the teeler in accordance with the character ot the yarn in use.

`What is claimed is:

l. In a teeler mechanism for looms, the combination oi" a teeler, a teeler holding detent for holding the teeler in a iront -fard position, means i'or causing the eeler to swing laterally into an inoperative position beyond the reach of the filling where it is held by the detent 'during its periods of inactivity, a lock .for holding the eeler 'from lateral movement in either direction during its periods oi inactivity, and means or' treeing the eeler from the detent and lock at intervals.

2. In a eeler mechanism for looms, the combination or' a teeler, a ieeler holding detent for holding the feeler in a frontward position, means for causing the feeler to swing laterally into an inoperative position beyond the reach of the iilling where it is held by the detent during its periods ot inactivity, a lock for holding the eeler from lateral movement in either direction during its periods of inactivity, and means actua-ted from the cam follower for freeing the `lfeeler 'from the detent and lock at intervals.

3. In a eeler mechanism for looms, the combination ot a teeler, a feeler holding detent for holding the eeler in a frontward position, means for causing the eeler to swing laterally into an inoperative position beyond the reach of the filling where it is held by the 'detent during its periods of inactivity, locking members, one on the feeler and the other on the detent for holding the ieeler from lateral movement in either direction during its periods of inactivity, and means for freeing the ifeeler from the detent and lock at intervals.

4. In a teeler mechanism 'for looms, the combination ot a teeler, a spring normally acting to move the eeler rearwardly, means for moving the feeler laterally to an inoperative position as the lay goes back with a working supply of iilling in the shuttle, a detent lock tor holding the eeler in trontward inoperative position, a locking projection and recess, one on the detent and the other on the teeler for loclring the feeler from movement laterally in either direction 1,5ee,25e

n s tor moving the teeler laterally to a p on beyond the reach of the filling on detecting beats that it may be held in such i on luy the detent during periods of inu l a loci; tor holding the ieeler from lateral moven'ient in either direction during its periods of inactivity and means tor freeing the ieeler trom the detent and locli at intervals.

(S. ln a teeler mechanism for looms, the combination oi' a teeler, a detent i'or holding the ieeler in a frontward inoperative position, a projection carried the ieeler we the detent when the eeler is rontwardly by a working supply oi' iiliing in the shuttle, means for causing the ieeler to move laterally into an inoperative position beyond the reach of the filling, a lock tor securing the eeler from lateral movement in either direction from said inoperative position during periods ot inactivity, and means for freeing the eeler at intervals.

7. ln a ieeier mechanism for looms, the combination of a teeler, a detent for holding the eeler in a rontward inoperative position, a projection carried by the feeler to engage the detent when the leeler is moved irontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle, means tor causing the feeler to move laterally into an inoperative position beyond the. reach of the lilling, a lock for securing the eeler from lateral movement in either direction from said inoperative position during periods of inactivity, and means actuated from the cam follower for freeing the teeler at intervals.

55. in a ieeler mechanism 'for looms, the ecmbination of a 'eeler, a detent for holding the teeler in a i'rontward inoperative position during periods of inactivity, a device Yfor tipping the detent to tree the feeler at intervals, comprising two tripping members constructed and arranged to selectively permit both of said tripping members to trip the detent for relatively short periods of inactivity of the eeler and one only of said members to trip the detent for relatively longer periods ot inactivity of the eeler.

9. In a eeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a ifeeler, a detent for holding the feeler in an inoperative position dnring periods ot inactivity, a trip device for freeing the :teeler at intervals having a main trip and an auxiliary trip, and means for changing the position of the trip device to cause the main trip and auxiliary trip to be effective for relatively short periods of feeler inactivity and the auxiliary trip to' be ineffective for relatively longer periods of feeler inactivity.

l0. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a eeler, a detent for holding the feeler in a frontward inoperative position during periods of inactivity, a devicefor tripping the detent to free the feeler at intervals, comprising two tripping memb'ers constructed and arranged to selectively permit both of said tripping members to trip the detent for relatively short periods of inactivity of the eeler and one only of said members to trip the detent for relatively longer periods of inactivity of the eeler, and means actuated from the cam follower Yfor operating the trip device.

1l. In a eeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a detent for holding the eeler in an inoperativey position during periods of inactivity, a step-by-step member actuated from a going part of the loom, a trip device having a main trip portion and an auxiliary trip portion, and means for changeably connecting the trip device to the stepbystep member to cause both of said trip portions to act upon the detent andl free the feeler from the detent when relatively short periods of inactivity of the feeler are desired and to cause only one of said trip portions to act upon the detent when relatively longer periods of inactivity are desired.

l2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a detent for holding the feeler in an inoperative position during periods of inactivity, a trip device having a main and an auxiliary trip portion, and means for changing the position of the trip device relative to the detent to cause one of said trip portions to act in freeing the feeler for relatively long periods of inactivity and both of said portions to act to free the feeler for relatively shorter periods of inactivity.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE H. WILLARD. 

